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Peter Gade, Lin Dan chalk up victories

GOOD GOING: Lin Dan recorded a straight-game win over Misha Zilberman in the first round of the World championships in Hyderabad on Monday.

V.V. Subrahmanyam

Palyama shocks Bao; Chetan Anand the lone bright spot for Indians on the opening day

HYDERABAD: India’s best hope in men’s singles and 15th seed Chetan Anand provided the only cheer for the host, on an otherwise disappointing first day for Indians, when he outplayed Korean Ji Hoon Hong 21-8, 21-16 in the first round of the BWF World badminton championshp at Gachibowli here on Monday night.

Chetan found his rhythm straight away with some wonderful blend of attack and defence. His stunning smashes and delectable drops confused the Korean, who looked out of sorts for most of the game except briefly in the second when he gave some fight.

That was the phase when the Indian, playing against the wind, made some unforced errors. But, once Chetan regained his touch, there was no looking back.

Not easy

“I am really pleased with the winning start. Everytime I lost a point, I just remembered Prakash sir (Prakash Padukone with whom he trained in Bangalore before this event),” Chetan revealed.

“It was not an easy match. Definitely, there is plenty of scope for improvement,” he said.

Emphatic statement

Earlier, Peter Gade and Lin Dan made an emphatic statement winning their matches with ease.

“I haven’t yet got the right feel of the conditions and the draft factor is causing some difficulties like it does in some venues. But the lighting is perfect and conducive to good badminton,” said the World No. 3 after his first round win.

However, the defending champion, southpaw Lin Dan, did get into a spot of bother in the second game against Misha Zilberman of Israel before scripting a 21-9, 21-11 win in 23 minutes.

At one stage the scores were level at eight-all. That was the time when Misha was executing some difficult drop shots.

But, like any true champion, Lin Dan brushed off the challenge and countered with stunning down the line smashes.

“I was fully prepared for the shuttles to be slow in India. So, I did not have too much of a problem with this factor,” Lin Dan said.

But he said that he had to play to his form consistently to emerge as the winner. “Well, if they (Gade and Lee Chong Wei) think that I am the favourite, I on the other hand feel that anyone of them can also win here,” he said.

Palyama stuns Bao

Dicky Palyama of Netherlands shocked 11th seeded Chulai Bao, a silver medallist in the 2006 World championship, with a 21-18, 21-14 win in the men’s singles first round.

For the Indians, it was a disappointing start on the first day. First, the best men’s doubles combine of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas bowed out in the first round 13-21, 21-23 to the 14th seeded Japanese duo of Kenichi Hayakawa and Kenta Kazuno.

Later, the mixed doubles pair of Arun Vishnu and Aparna Balan also lost their first round match against Japanese Noriyasu Hirata and Shizuka Matsuo 14-21, 20-22 and Aditi Mutatkar surrendered to her German opponent Juliane Schenk 8-21, 12-21.

Wei advances

World No.1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia overcame a hesitant start to get past German Dui 21-14, 21-10 in a first round to put behind the bad memories of losing a first round match on the same court this April in the India Open Gold Grand Prix.

“It was certainly playing at the back of mind. I was nervous but I am happy to be off to a winning star,” said a visibly pleased Lee later on.